Mining vertical coal seams in France

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · World Coal; (United States)

OSTI ID:6419516

Schneiderman, S J

French coal miners in the Lorraine Basin coalfields of Charbonnages de France, work under extremely difficult mining conditions. The coal seams are located in two parallel anticlines dipping to the southwest. On the northwest flanks the coal dips at angles up to 40/sup 0/; on the southeast flanks the coal dips as steep as 90/sup 0/. In addition to the problems associated with steeply dipping coal seams, the coal is often more than 3 meters (10 feet) thick, thus contributing the additional problems that are associated with thick seams. A cut-and-fill mining method is used and production of up to 400 tons per day for a three-shift working face has been achieved. The cut-and-fill mining method employed at Puit Reumaux, rising horizontal rooms with hydraulic stowing, is used in areas of the mine where seam dips exceed 45/sup 0/ and where seam thickness is from 2 to 5 meters (6.5 to 16.5 feet). Hydraulic stowing has many advantages for the Merlebach mine: The coalis located under urbanized areas and is also covered by water-bearing strata with hydraulic sand stowing there is little subsidence, so disturbances to the surface and the aquiferous zones are minimized. Hydraulic sand stowing also helps prevent eating and combustion.

• OSTI ID: 6419516
• Journal Information: World Coal; (United States), Journal Name: World Coal; (United States) Vol. 7:4; ISSN WOCOD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
BACKFILLING
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL MINING
COAL SEAMS
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
EQUIPMENT
EUROPE
FRANCE
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRATA
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
HYDRAULIC TRANSPORT
INCLINED STRATA
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
MINING EQUIPMENT
RESOURCES
STOWING
THICKNESS
TRANSPORT
UNDERGROUND MINING
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
WESTERN EUROPE